Film star Michael Sheen visits Barnardo's in Neath
Barnardo's Cymru Neath Port Talbot Partnership received a very special guest when Michael Sheen visited the project. The award winning star of stage and screen saw how Barnardo's helps vulnerable children and young people transform their lives and fulfil their potential in the area. He joined in with a parenting group and observed some of the techniques and support offered to parents to help them manage their children's difficult behaviour. He also met some of the many volunteers who help out at the project.
Barnardo's started working in Neath in 2000. The project based in London Road employs 23 members of staff and has 77 volunteers. In addition to parenting skills, the service offers family group meeting work, confidence building activities for teenagers and diverting young people away from offending behaviour.
One group Michael is keen to hear was the young person's drama group. Children aged 8 to 18 work with performing arts students from Swansea Metropolitan University to produce and perform musicals and drama. They will be taking part in Passion , the three-day non-stop production that Michael will be directing and appearing in for National Theatre Wales in his home town of Port Talbot. This epic production starts on the afternoon of Good Friday and ends on Easter Sunday and will have 1000 local people as its cast, crew, and heroes.
Rhian Evans, Barnardo's Cymru Neath Port Talbot Manager, said:
"We are delighted to welcome Michael to the project and honoured that he is taking an interest in our work at Barnardo's. It has been a very busy year for us in Neath Port Talbot and we have recently celebrated ten years of working in the area helping a number of children and young people to have a flying start in life and making a big difference to their situations."
Barnardo's in NPT also hosts The Children's Inclusion Project, a scheme for children aged 8-18 who are displaying challenging and difficult behaviour in regards to their family situation, education and community. A mentoring scheme gives children and young people the opportunity to be carefully matched with a volunteer who will support them and encourage them to change their behaviour. The project has a successful track record in reducing children's risk of anti-social activity, truancy, school exclusions and inappropriate behaviour in the community.